XN000022-1980-04-15 — Page 4

TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 1980

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PROMOTION OF RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

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THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR E.B. WIGGHAM SAID THE SETTING UP OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DIVISION IN THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH SIGNIFIED THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHED TO THESE ACTIVITIES AND WAS A MEASURE OF THE SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH IT REGARDED ITS RESPONSIBILITIES IN THESE FIELDS.

SPEAKING AT TODAY'S LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON EAST, MR WIGGHAM SAID THE NEW DIVISION WAS SET UP TO GIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPROVED CO-ORDINATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF RECREATION AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMES, NOTING THAT THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE (RSS) AND THE MUSIC OFFICE WERE PART OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WHEN FIRST ESTABLISHED.

HOWEVER, MR WIGGHAM EMPHASISED THAT THE TRANSFER OF THE TWO OFFICES DID NOT IMPLY ANY REDUCTION IN THE IMPORTANCE OF RECREATION AND SPORT OR OF MUSIC IN SCHOOL LIFE.

+THE SCHOOL SYLLABUS WILL CONTINUE, AS BEFORE, TO INCLUDE ITS ELEMENTS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND MUSIC EDUCATION. WHAT WE ARE CONCERNED WITH IS THE 'HEALTHY MIND IN THE HEALTHY BODY' OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL, MR WIGGHAM SAID.

DURING 1979 OVER 400 000 PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TOOK PART IN NO FEWER THAN 3 500 RECREATION PROGRAMMES COSTING $3 MILLION FROM PUBLIC FUNDS.

THE RANGE OF THESE PROGRAMMES HAS INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY, BOTH INDOORS AND OUTDOORS, AND NOW INCLUDES SUCH NEW AND FAST DEVELOPING ACTIVITIES AS ICE SKATING, HORSE-RIDING AND SAILING, MR WIGGHAM SAID.

IN ADDITION, THE RSS ALSO RUNS THE VERY SUCCESSFUL SAI KUNG OUTDOOR RECREATION CENTRE AND PLANS ARE IN HAND TO DEVELOP ADDITIONAL CAMPS SIMILAR TO THE ONE AT SAI KUNG.

MR WIGGHAM ALSO NOTED THAT THE MUSIC OFFICE HAS THREE OBJECTIVES, TO RUN AN INSTRUMENTAL TRAINING SCHEME, TO PROMOTE INTEREST IN MUSIC, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE YOUNG, AND TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST IN THE ORGANISING OF MUSIC ACTIVITIES IN ALL DISTRICTS.

THERE ARE NOW SOME 1 500 YOUNGSTERS UNDER TRAINING BY THE MUSIC OFFICE, FORMING AMONG THEM TWO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAS, FIVE CHINESE ORCHESTRAS, FIVE SYMPHONIC BANDS, AND ONE BAND OF 80 MEMBERS ALL UNDER 12 YEARS OF AGE.

IN ADDITION, THERE ARE SEVEN YOUTH AND CHILDREN CHOIRS WITH 500 MEMBERS TOGETHER WITH ONE CHOIR FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AND ONE FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED.

OVERSEAS MUSICIANS PASSING THROUGH HONG KONG ARE INVITED TO RUN MASTER CLASSES AND SEMINARS IN ORDER TO BROADEN THE OUTLOOK AND EXPERIENCE OF OUR YOUNG MUSICIANS.

/INTERNATIONAL MUSIC